Communication skills in the development of divulgation practices of Science

Code:

DC612

Acronym:

DC612

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Science Divulgation

Instance: 2019/2020 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Science Education Unit
Course/CS Responsible:	Doctor's Degree in Teaching and Dissemination of Science

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDEDC	4	PE PD em Ensino e Divulgação das Ciências	1	-	6	35	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

In accordance with the objectives of the Doctoral Program in Teaching and Dissemination of Sciences, the curricular unit of Communication Techniques in the Development of Practices of Dissemination of Science aims to promote in students the development of communication skills of Sciences, using techniques and practices appropriate to the different contexts and publics to which the initiatives of dissemination of the Sciences are destined.

Learning outcomes and competences

1. Identify techniques and practices of scientific communication.
2. Select the techniques and practices of scientific communication that best suit the different contexts and public.
2. Analyze the national and international reality in what concerns scientific communication in a particular subject (defined according to the student’s interests).
3. To enhance science communication skills in each subject area.
4. To evaluate and propose improvements on specific science divulgation activities in progress.
5. Increase of proactivity and entrepreneurship in scientific communication initiatives.
6. To work on a project proposal in order to start a certain scientific communication activity/initiative.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction to the study of communication: history, theories and models
2. Practices and techniques in science communication: skills and challenges (public speaking, storytelling, application of ICT to science communication, entrepreneurship and funding of communication projects)
3. Planning and evaluation of science communication activities
4. Current scientific communication projects and initiatives

Mandatory literature

Bucchi, M., & Trench, B. ; Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology, London & New York: Routledge., 2008

Teaching methods and learning activities

The fundamentals of UC will be worked in a large group, always based on previous readings of scientific articles, books or recommended reports. Once analyzed by the students, these resources will be the object of reflection and joint discussion, aiming at the synthesis of key ideas.

Afterwards, students will be divided into group according to their subject area of interest and will work the objectives, competences and contents above in the area of mathematics, OR physics, OR chemistry OR astronomy, OR biology, OR geology. They will work on an individual or group project with teacher tutoring in the correspondent area.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	5,00
Prova oral	25,00
Trabalho escrito	70,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	15,00
Estudo autónomo	67,00
Frequência das aulas	35,00
Trabalho escrito	45,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

2/3 attendance.

Calculation formula of final grade

I - Development of a reflexive synthesis based on the fundamental contents addressed.
II - Development and presentation of a project proposal (individual or group) on scientific communication in the disciplinary area.

Evaluation formula:
A - 70% for tasks (I-30% + II-40%)
B - 25% for final presentation and discussion of the task II.
C- 5% presential participation

The final score for each student will be: 0,70 x A + 0,25 x B + 0,05 x C